The cast album of the possibly-Broadway-bound Follies revival is still being recorded by TVT Soundtrax June 1 and 2, but release has now been pushed back from July to early fall, according to a TVT spokesperson..

The cast album of the possibly-Broadway-bound Follies revival is still being recorded by TVT Soundtrax June 1 and 2, but release has now been pushed back from July to early fall, according to a TVT spokesperson..

The spokesperson told Playbill On-Line May 28 that in light of tentative plans to move the Paper Mill Playhouse production to Broadway, TVT is holding off until somewhere between late August and mid October, in hopes of tying-in the CD release with the Broadway opening. No producer or date for a Broadway production have been finalized.

The show was also was in talks with PBS to tape and broadcast the production, but Paper Mill spokesman Dennis Dougherty said May 28 that the video version has now definitely been shelved.

Production spokesman Jim Byk told Playbill On-Line that the recording will include not just the full score as performed at Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, NJ through May 31, but will include an appendix of songs cut from the show in its pre-Broadway tryouts, and songs added for subsequent productions.

Spokesperson Jim Byk said Robert Sher will produce the cast recording for TVT Soundtrax in a two-disk set, featuring all the music from this production, including the never-recorded "Bolero d'Amour" and all the dance music for "Who's That Woman?" and "The Right Girl." The appendix will include "The Story of Lucy and Jessie," which isn't in the Paper Mill mounting, plus "Uptown and Downtown," "All Things Bright and Beautiful," "Pleasant Little Kingdom," and "Can That Boy Fox-Trot" (the song replaced by "I'm Still Here").

Paper Mill artistic director Robert Johanson directed this revival of the legendary Stephen Sondheim/James Goldman musical about veteran "Follies" stars and vaudevillians remembering their youth, and resolving conflicts of the heart that began back when they were chorus kids backstage. The all-star cast features Tony Roberts as Buddy and Hollywood legend Ann Miller as Carlotta. Also in the cast: Donna McKechnie, Laurence Guittard, Dee Hoty, Liliane Montevecchi, Eddie Bracken, Kaye Ballard, Phyllis Newman, Donald Saddler and Natalie Mosco.

TVT Soundtrax' first venture into cast recordings was the recently-released 1776 revival. Hillary Knight, the noted logo designer (No No Nannette, Sugar Babies, Irene), will do the CD album cover for Follies.

For NJ press, Follies opened Apr. 24, but because of the crush of Broadway openings that week, New York critics were given a different opening date, Apr. 30. The production runs through May 31. Rave reviews have led to serious talk of a Broadway transfer, especially since the show can't extend at Paper Mill because Will Rogers Follies is booked to follow. Byk said (May 18) that producers would need to book a large Broadway house in order for the expensive transfer to make economic sense.

Phyllis Newman (Subways Are For Sleeping) plays Stella. Kaye Ballard will play Hattie. Ballard began her Broadway career in The Golden Apple and continued it with Funny Girl, Wonderful Town and She Stoops To Conquer.

Billy Hartung plays Young Buddy (Scott Wise had been mentioned for the role, but is in rehearsals for Fosse). Carol Skarimbas plays Heidi (the one who sings "One More Kiss.") Meredith Patterson will play Young Phyllis. Danette Holden plays young Sally. (Among others considered for roles were John Cullum and Faith Prince.)

An interesting sidenote for Sondheim fans: one change made for this Follies includes a condensing of characters. The dance team of Vincent & Vanessa has been cut, but their parts have been added to the Whitmans. Thus, the Whitmans still sing "Rain on the Roof" but will also dance "Bolero d'Amour," which used to be hoofed by V&V.

Finishing the Paper Mill season will be The Will Rogers Follies, the 1991 Tony winner for best musical. It's a fanciful version of the life story of Rogers, one of America's most popular entertainer/comedians. Peter Stone wrote the book, Betty Comden & Adolph Green the lyrics, Cy Coleman the score. (June 10-July 26, opening June 12).

Rehearsals begin in May for Will Rogers Follies, directed by Mark S. Hoebee and choreographed by D. J. Salisbury. Just finished with the State Fair national tour, John Davidson plays the lead, with Ann Crumb (Anna Karenina, Aspects of Love) playing Betty Blake. The Madcap Mutts, who appeared on Broadway in the show, will repeat their canine cavorting. Also in the cast are Pamela Jordan (Ziegfeld's Favorite) and Dennis Kelly (Clem).

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Next season at Paper Mill will open with Gypsy, with a star to be announced.

Following Gypsy will be a new version (Nov.-Dec.) of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by David Levy & Leslie Eberhard (book & lyrics) with music by Phil Hall. Starring will be Richard White, Marc Kudisch (High Society), Glory Crampton (Off-Broadway's Carnival) and Judy McLane.

After that it's Kaufman & Hart's The Man Who Came To Dinner with a star to be named very soon" says spokesperson Byk (May 11)

Announced to finish the season is Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, though the current Osmond Brothers tour of the Andrew Lloyd Webber & Tim Rice musical will likely lead Paper Mill to do a different show instead.

Robert Johanson is artistic director of the Paper Mill Playhouse, the official state theatre of New Jersey. Musicals previously revived at the Millburn theatre include South Pacific, Show Boat and Gigi; newer works include Chess, Phantom, Jane Eyre and Comfortable Shoes.